Solution tank



C. A. LANG SOLUT ION TANK Filed Aug. 31, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet firms MuCharles .ZlLfUZQ c. A. LANG 1,975,749

SOLUTION TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1951 Get. 2, 1934.

u M m gwwntoo G/zarZea fl Lang Patented 0a. 2, 1934 PATENT OFFICE UNITEDSTATES SOLUTION TANK Charles A. Lang, Minneapolis, Application August31, 1931, Serial No. 560,380

9 Claims. (01. 141-9) I 4 The present invention relates to a mechanismfor feeding concentrated cleaning solution into the tank of adishwashingmachine.

In dishwashing machines of the type in general use in restaurants, atank filled with a hot dilutesolution of cleansing material is providedin the machine. This hot solution is "pumped up through a spray headmounted above a rack for holding dishes to be washed therein and issprayed over the dishes to clean them. After the cleaning operation iscompleted, a spray of hot, clear water is sprayed over the dishes torinse them. An .overiiow pipe is connected to the solution tank of thedishwashing machine to maintain the liquid therein at a constant level.Each time the dishes' are sprayed, the clearwater used in the sprayingprocess flows down into the solution tank and dilutes the solutionslightly. It is customary, in order to maintain the solution in thedishwasher tank at a required degree of concentration, to throw in asmall quantity, approximately a handful, of soluble cleaning powder orsimilar substance from time to'time during the operation of thedishwashing machine. This, of course, is a more or less haphazardarrangement and usually results in wide variations in the degree ofconcentration of the solution which inevitably a predetermined portionof the contents of the solution tank into the dishwashing machine whenthe tank thereof is drained and filled with fresh water. Q

In order to attainthese objects, there is provided, in accordance withone feature of the invention, a container havinga compartment thereinadapted to hold a quantity of soluble cleaning material and havinganother compartment to hold a. quantity of concentrated cleaningsolution', the mechanism being adapted to feed a. dishwashing machineduring the periods of operation of said dishwashing machine.

These and other features of the invention will be .more fully broughtout in the following He'- scription and the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mechanism embodying the present invention.

Figure2 is a view in side elevation of the mech--, anism shown-in Figure1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33- of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of. Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line-55o'f Figure 1.

Figure 6' is an enlarged view of a metering I gland; 'and Figure 7 is asectional View on the line 6-6 of Figure l.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a container lis preferably made ofnon-corrosive sheet metal and is divided by a transverse wall 2 into twocompartments 3-and 4. A sheet metal cover 5 is preferably provided overthe entire top of the container 1, and-is screwed to a strip 6 of metal,welded to the outer'face of the upper edge of the container, a gasket 7being provided between the container and the cover to form a.

water-tight joint between'these parts. A handle 8 is hingedly connectedto the cover member 5 to provide a convenient means for handling thedevice.

The division wall 2 between the compartments 3. and 4 is of sheet metaland is secured to the sides and bottom of the container to form awater-tight joint therewith. A rectangular notched opening 10 isprovided in the lower edge of the partition wall 2 and a horizontalchannel 11 extends from this opening into the compartment 3 so thatliquid flowing through this channel will be discharged substantiallycentrallyof the compartment 3. A second opening 12 shown in Figure 4 isalso provided in the partition wall 2,'as an overflow opening from thecompartment 3 into the compartment 4, the bottom of this opening beingabove a normal liquid level in the compartment 3.

A bottom member 13 is removably positioned in the compartment 3 to lieabove the channel 11 and this bottom member-is provided with a handle 14by means of which it may be removed from the compartment 3, if desired.The raised bottom member 13 is of sheet metal having a plurality ofopenings therein and is covered on its upper side with a screen 16 tosupport a quantityof soluble cleaning material thereon. On the otherside of the partition 2 from the channel 11' and in open communicationwith the notched opening 10 and extending vertically upward therefrom,is a channel member 1'7. Theupper end of this channel member 17 is abovethe normal liquid level in the compartment 4,-and is also above thelower edge of the overflow opening 12. I Positioned forwardly ofthisvertical chann member 17 is a float 20, mounted to have free slidablemovement on a rod 9 secured perpendicularly to the bottom of thecompartment 4. The float is provided with an upwardly extending tube 21rigidly secured thereto to engage a trough 25 and tilt it to the dottedline position shown in Figure 5 when the float rises to a predeterminedheight. A second vertical channel member 23 is provided on the innerface of the outer wall of the compartment 4, longitudinally opposite thevertical channel member 17, and is in open communication at its lowerend with a bypass opening 24.

The tiltable, trough-shaped member 25 is mounted pivotally at a pointslightly to the left of its center of gravity, as shown in Figure 5,thetrough-shaped member, as shown in Figure 5, is a bent wire member 26having a cap 27 mounted on the upper end thereof, said cap beingpositionedslightly to one side of the trough-shaped member 25, butdirectly above the upper end of the vertical channel member 1'1.

A metering opening 18 is provided in the cover 5 of the container abovethe cap 2'1 and a pin 19 'is mounted to slide freely in this opening.The

upper and lower end-portions 22 of this pin are flattened to retain itin position in the opening. The clearance space between the pin 19 andthe opening 18 is sufficient to permit a predetermined quantity ofliquid to pass therethrough during the operation of the mechanism.

. The slidably mounted pin 19 posi ioned in the opening and adapted tobe raised by the cap 27 carried by the wire 26 upon each tilting of thetrough has two very important features. One, that the motion of the pinup and down in the opening tends to dislodge food particles which mighttend to clog the opening; and the other, that liquid passing through theopening tends to flow down the sides of the pin and there is thus nochance for a drop to form over the openingand retard the flow of liquidby surface tension.

A dump valve 41 is provided for releasing a large quantity ofconcentrated cleaning solution from the compartment 4 for charging afresh tank of water for the dishwashing machine with which the device isto be used. The valve mechanism is best shown in Figure 7. A valve seatmember 44 has a radially projecting flange 36 around the lower end of atubular body portion 35. This flange 36 is mounted circumferentiallyaround an opening 34 in the bottom of the container and is secured tothe container bottom as by soldering.

An inwardly offset valve seat 33 is provided within the upper end of thetubular portion 35 and a second inwardly offset portion 32 provides aguide for a tubular valve stem 31 slidably mounted therein.

A plurality of holes 30 are drilled through the portion 33 abovethe'valve seat to provide a passage for liquid when the valve is open. Avalve head 46 is provided on the lower end of the tubular valve stem,and comprises a washer 43 supported by an annular nut 43a threaded onthe lower end or" the valve stem. An enlarged, cup-shaped top portion 38is fixedly secured to the tubular valve stem 31, as by braaing. Anoperating plunger 47 is slidably mounted in a tubular member 39 carriedby the cover and has a narrow blade 4n aflixed to its lower end to devpress the valve stem to open the valve. The blade is shorter than thediameter of the interior of the cup-shaped member 38 to permit arelative lateral 'mc-vement of the valve stem and the plunger so as notto interfere with the proper seating of the valve. The blade 40, beingthinner than the diameter of the opening through the tubular valve stem,does not interfere with the flow of liquid through this opening.Anoperating button 37 is provided on the upper end of the operatingplunger 47 so that upon depressing this operating button the valve willbe opened to discharge the contents of the container therethrough downto the height of the upper edge of a surrounding tubular member 45. Noprovision is made to prevent the passage of liquid from the exterior ofthe cover downwardly between thetubular guide member 39 and the plunger47 since any liquid passing downwardly therethrough will pass directlyon through the tubular valve stem. In fact, any dilute cleaning solutionwhich seeps through in this manner assists in keeping the interior ofthe valve stem clean. A coil spring 42 is held in compression betweenthe valve seat member 44 and the valve top 38 to normally hold the valvein raised, closed position. A plug 48, having a large opening therein,is provided in the cover 5 directly over the trough 25. The length ofthe tube 21, carried by the float, is such that the trough 25 will beengaged by this tube and swung to the dotted line position of Figure 5just before the level of the liquid in the container reaches the heightof the upper edge of the cupshaped member 38. When this tilting of thetrough occurs the water entering through the large opening in the' plug48 will flow from the trough into the vertical channel member 23 andthence outwardly through the opening 24. As soon as this tilting occursthe only liquid which can enter the container must pass through thespace between the smaller metering opening 18 and the pin 19. Thisliquid will pass downwardly through the vertical channel member 17through the horizontal channel member 11, and upwardly through thesoluble cleansing material in the cleanser compartment 3. It will thenoverflow through the overflow opening 12 in the partition wall 2 andwill raise the. level-of the liquid in the solution compartment 4 sothat it will overflow the upper edge of the cup-shaped member 38,

-tion from the dishwashing spray heads alternately with fresh water fromthe rinsing heads instead of passing the concentrated solution from thetank, as is the case where a metering orifice is provided on thedischarge end of the mechanism, as shown 'in the co-pending application,Serial No. 519,025, flled February 28, 1931.

An annular rim 2'. is secured to the cover to encircle the openings 18and plug 48 and an annular ring 49 is adapted to thread onto the rim 2'7and is provided with a screened covering across to prevent the entranceof food particles into the basin formed by the rim 2'1. A circularopening 50 is provided in the cover above the cleanser compartment andis provided with an upwardly discover member 52.

A tubular member 45 is provided surrounding the valve 41 and is ofaheight determined by the amount o f'liquid it is desired to dischargefrom the compartment 4 upon opening the valve 41 for charging. Thistubular member 45 is connected at its lower end to the valve seat 44 orto the bottom of the container so as to form a liquid-tight s'ealtherewith. It is apparent that .upon opening the valve 41 by depressingthe operating knob 37 that the liquid in the compartment 4 will bedischarged through the opening 43 to the level of the top edge of thistube. Thus, by using a a longer tubular member 45 a smaller amount ofliquid will be discharged from the compartment upon opening the valve 41and by using a shorter tubular member 45 a larger amount of solutionwill be discharged. These tubular members are not intended to beinterchangeable in use, but are supplied by the factory of a requiredheight for the particular type of dishwashing machine with which thedevice is intended to be used.

The operation of the mechanismis as follows:

. In preparing the mechanism for use, a quantity of dry, solublecleaning material is'placed in the compartment 3, which may be readilyaccomplished by unscrewing the cover. The soluble cleaning material issupported by the perforated,

gauze covered, bottom member 13, and this cleaning material shouldpreferably not .come

above the lower edge of the overflow opening'12,

in the partition wall 2 so as to avoid having undissolved cleaningmaterial wash over into the solution compartment 4.

We will assume now that the compartment 3 has been filled to the properlevel with soluble cleaning material, and that the device has beenplaced in the dishwashing machine. Upon operating the dishwashingmachine, part of the spray from the washing and rinsing heads will fallonto the screen 9 mounted on the cover 5. .Since there is no water inthe solution compartment 4,

the float will be in its lowermost or solid line position, as shown inFigure 6, and the trough will be tilted to the solid line position shownin Figure 5. A comparatively large amount of wa[- ter will flow throughthe large opening in the plug 48 onto the trough and thence downwardlyinto the vertical channel 17, while a much smaller quantity will flowbetween the pin 19 and the metering opening 18 and will drop directlydown the vertical channel 1'7. From the lower end of this channel thiswater from both openings will flow through the notched opening 10, alongthe horizontal channel 11, and will gradually fill the compartment 3,seeping upwardly through the meshed openings in the floor plate tosaturate and dissolvea portion of the soluble cleaning material therein.When the liquid in the compartment 3 reaches the level of the overflowopening 12 the liquid, now a concentrated solution, will flow throughthis overflow opening into the solution compartment 4 and its level willgradually rise in the compartment 4 until the liquid crimes slight headof water will be maintained on the metering opening in the intervalsbetween washing 'and rinsing operations of the dishwashin machine. Inthis manner a practically constant stream of water will flow from thecover receptacle downwardly through the space between the pin 19 and theopening in the metering gland 18 into the container. I tainer has beenfilled to the required level after an original charging operation, asabove described, and the float has tilted the trough to the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 6, a substantially constant amount of waterwill be admitwd through the metering opening and will follow thehereinbefore described course down through the vertical channel member,upwardly through the compartment 3, through the overflow opening 12,into the solution compartment 4. I To increase or decrease the flow ofincoming water, and thereby the discharge of concentrated solution,smaller or larger metering pins 19 may be used.

The controlling of the rate of discharge bycontrolling the rate ofinflow of liquid into the container is a very material advantage, sinceprior to the invention contained in the present application, othermechanisms for accomplishing a similar purpow as the present device weredeveloped, wherein the rate of discharge of the cleaning solution from acontainer was controlled by a restricted discharge orifice. It has beenfound, in attempting to thus regulate the rate of feeding of theconcentrated cleaning solution, that although the device would function,there was a tendency under certain conditions for the discharge orificetobecome clogged by crystalization of the cleaning material uponevaporation of the concentrated solution after stopping the dishwashingmachine, and also by impurities, such asconstruction, and, furthermore,the discharge opening, being considerably larger than the meshes of thescreen through which the water must pass before entering the cleaningsolution compartment, any food particles which may find entrance intothe solution compartment 4 readily pass through the discharge openingwithout dan ger of clogging said discharge opening.

I claim: 1. A'solution tank of the character described,

a compartment for soluble cleaning material and a solution compartmenttherein, a liquid catch basin carriedby-said tankhaving a meteringorifice to admit a predetermined quan Therefore, once the con tity ofwater from said catch basin into saidcleaning material compartment, and:having 'an overflow opening from said cleaning material compartment intosaid solution compartment,

and having a comparatively large normally open discharge opening in saidsolution compartment to discharge solution therefrom exteriorly of saidcontainer.

2. A solution tank of the character described,-

comprising a two-compartment tank having an overflow opening from one tothe' other of said compartments, a metering opening in said tank toadmit a predetermined quantity of water into one of said compartments, avalve mounted in the other of said compartments and operable exteriorlyof said tank, said latter compartment having a comparatively largenormally open discharge opening therein spaced upwardly from said valve.

3. A solution tank of the character described, having'a soap compartmenttherein and having a closed top except for a metering orifice therein,

a rim surrounding said orifice, a discharge valve mounted adjacent thelower portion of said tank,

' said valve having a hollow stem terminating below the top of said tankand opening exteriorly of said tank, to discharge liquid overflowing theupper end of said valve stem, and manually controlled valve operatingmeans to open said valve to discharge liquid from said tank through saidvalve.

4. A solution tank of the character described, adapted to containsoluble cleaning material, said tank having a liquid catch basin on thetop thereof, said catch basin having a metering orifice opening fromsaid basin into said container, said container having an overflowopening from said container exteriorly thereof, a discharge valvemounted adjacent the lower end of said container, control means mountedto operate said valve, and a water-tight wall surroundng said valveextending to a predetermined height above said valve to limit the amountof liquid to be discharged from said tank upon opening said valve.

5.1n a sol-.ition tankof the character described, comprising a containerhaving a large inlet opening therein to initially fill said tank, andhaving a small inlet opening to supply a small, continuing stream ofwater to said tank, a rim surrounding said openings to provide'a catchbasin for retaining liquid falling thereon, a tiltable trough mountedbeneath said large opening, one end of said trough being positioned overa by-pass outlet, said trough beingnormally tilted to discharge liquidentering said larger opening into the interior of said tank, float meansmounted to tilt said trough to discharge liquid falling on said troughoutwardly through said by-pass outlet when. said float is raised byliquid in said container to a predetermined height, said containerhaving an overflow opening at a lower level than said by-pass outlet,said overflow opening being adaptedto discharge exteriorly of saidcontainer.

a -6. In a solution tank of the character described, a container havingan overflow opening.

therein adapted to discharge exteriorly of said container, a meteringorifice opening into the interior of said container, a pin mounted insaid opening and spaced inwardly from the sides thereof to provide apassage for liquid into said container, and float means mounted toengage said pin on a predetermined rise of liquid in said tank to movesaid pin in said opening to free said opening from foreign matter whichmay lodge therein.

7. In a solution tank of the character described, a container adapted'to contain soluble cleaning material having a liquid catch basin on thetop thereof, said catch basin having a metering orifice opening fromsaid basin and into said container, said container having an overflowopening from said container exteriorly thereof, said overflow openingbeing materially larger than said metering orifice, -a discharge valvemounted adjacent the lower end oi said container, control means mountedto operate said valve, and a water-tight wall surrounding said valve andspaced outwardly therefrom, said wall extending to a predeterminedheight above said valve to limit the amount of liquid discharged fromsaid tank upon opening said valve.

8. In a solution tank adapted to contain soluble cleaning material, aliquid catch basin thereon, said catch basin having a metering orificeopening from said basin into said tank, a pin mounted 1 in said openingand spaced inwardly from the sides thereof to provide a passage forliquid into said container, said pin being movable within. said openingto free said opening from foreign matter, which may lodge therein, andan out- 1 let opening at a lower level than said metering orificeadapted to discharge exteriorly of said tank.

9. In a solution tank adapted to be placed in a shower of water, acontainer adapted to contain 1 soluble cleaning material, a catch basinsupported thereby and exteriorly open whereby to catch and retain aportion of a shower of water falling thereon and to overflowsurplus-water falling thereon, said catch basin having a meter- 1 ingorifice opening from said basin into said container, said containerhaving an overflow opening from said container exteriorly thereof, saidoverflow opening being'sufiiciently larger than said metering orifice sothat the rate of flow is 1 controlled solely by the size of the inletorifice, said overflow opening being shielded from a shower of waterfalling on said device.

CHARLES A. LANG. 1

